Practical feline behaviour understanding cat behaviour and improving welfare

urine spraying, indoor 38–39, 85, 91, 211, 234
medication for 172 , 173, 178
first aid advice for 245–247
utricular otolith organ 19

vaccinations 120, 128, 129, 138, 151
vacuum cleaners 71–72
vermin control 6, 7, 10, 42
vestibular system 19
veterinary care 132, 151, 152
and owners’ reluctance 151, 152
and sensitization 100
teaching cats to tolerate 243–244
see also cat-carriers
veterinary professionals, advice for 152–178
and appointments system 154
and behavioural consultation see
behavioural consultation
and client information 154
and client interaction see veterinary
professionals–client interaction
and clients’ stress 152, 155
and consultation room 155
and handling/examining 155–157, 156
and hospitalization see hospitalized cats
online 164
removing cat from carrier 156–157, 157
and shelving/elevated spaces 154, 157
and waiting room/reception area 153–155
veterinary professionals–client
interaction 164–167
and behavioural first aid see behavioural
first aid
handouts 165
and nurse/technician behavioural
clinics 164
public talks 164
staff greetings/reception 154–155
vibrissae 18
vision 14–16, 15
binocular/3D 16, 54
colour perception 15–16
field of 16
focusing 15
in indoor-raised cats 69
in kittens 68–69
movement detection 15
night/low light 14–15, 54
short-/long-sightedness 69
visual signalling 22, 26–32
advantages/disadvantages of 23

cats/dogs compared 26–27

with ears 27, 28 , 93

with eyes 27–28, 28

interpreting, precautions with 27

with tail 29, 30 , 93

with tongue 28, 29

with whiskers 28–29

with whole body see whole

body signals

vocalizations 22–26, 68, 158

advantages/disadvantages of 23

chatter/chitter 22, 25

defensive/antagonistic sounds 23, 25

hissing 26, 46, 201, 213, 214, 254

of kittens/nursing females 26

meow see meowing

murmur sounds 22

purr see purring

sexual 22, 25, 59

strained intensity sounds 23

vowel sounds 22

vomeronasal/Jacobson’s organ 17, 18 , 35, 68

vomiting 88

walkways 193, 195, 197

wand toys 50, 104, 193, 202

watching behaviour 47

water dishes 121, 184, 206, 214

weaning 52, 65–66, 65 , 121, 124

early, and pica/wool-sucking 92

frustration during 66, 125

and hand-rearing 124–125, 125

whiskers 18, 28–29

whole body signals 30–32, 31, 93,

247, 247 , 256

distance decreasing 31, 32

distance increasing 30, 31

resting positions 32, 46, 46

wild cats see feral cats

wildcat (Felix silvestris) 3, 4 , 5

see also African wildcat

wildcats (Silvestris spp.) 5

wildlife 54–55

witches/witchcraft 8

wool-sucking 92

yowl/caterwaul 22, 23, 25, 58

zoopharmacognosy 176, 177

274 Index